Electrical stirrup connector



Dec. 24, 1963 L. s. GREER ELECTRICAL STIRRUP CONNECTOR Filed Oct. 1, 1959 Zeoizafid 6322! United States Patent Ofiice Patented Disc. 24-, 1963 va'nia Filed Oct. 1, 1959, er. No. 843,873 3 Claims. (Cl. 174-71) The present invention relates generally to a novel electrical connector and more particularly to a novel stirrup type connector.

An important object of the present invention is to provide a novel stirrup type device utilizing a compression connector and a wire bail or stirrup, which device is constructed so that the wire bail or loop may be readily assembled with the compression connector and adjusted to any desired position relative thereto whereupon the connector may be compressed on a power line so that the bail or loop will be secured in the desired adjusted position.

A more specific object of the present invention is to provide a novel stirrup type connector or device of the above described type wherein the compression means is provided with a bore or passageway for accommodating a portion of the wire bail or loop, which portion of the wire bail is constructed for locking the bail in the desired adjusted position relative to the compression means when the device is fully applied to a power line or the like.

An even more specific object of the present invention is to provide a novel stirrup type connector or device of the above described type which is constructed so as to control movement or adjustment of the wire bail both axially and rotatably relative to the compression unit for facilitating proper assembly of the device with a power line or the like.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a novel stirrup type device or connector which is constructed so that a wire bail or stirrup may be securely fastened to a compression unit during the same compression operation by which the unit is applied to a power line.

Other objects and advantages of the present invention will become apparent from the following description and the accompanying drawings wherein:

FIG. 1 is a simplified view showing a power distribution system utilizing a stirrup connector of the type contemplated by the present invention;

FIG. 2 is an enlarged fragmentary side elevational View showing a stirrup type connector or device incorporating features of the present invention fully applied to a power line and also connected with a plurality of tap wires;

FIG. 3 is a fragmentary sectional view taken along line 33 in FIG. 2;

MG. 4 is a sectional View similar to PEG. 3 but showing the device prior to the crimping or compression operation by which the compression unit is secured both to the main power line and the bail or wire loop of the device;

FIG. 5 is a fragmentary side elevational view similar to FIG. 2 but showing a slightly modified form of the present invention;

MG. 6 is an enlarged fragmentary perspective view showing a portion of the wire bail of the device shown in FIG. 5;

FIG. 7 is a fragmentary side elevational view showing another slightly modified form of the present invention;

FIG. 8 is an enlarged fragmentary vertical partial sectional view of the device shown in FIG. 7; and

FIG. 9 is a fragmentary side elevational view showing another modified form of the present invention.

Referring now more specifically to the drawings wherein like parts are designated by the same numerals throughout the various figures, a device ill incorporating features of the present invention is shown in FIGS. 1-4. As will be understood, stirrup type devices or connectors are especially suitable for application to an energized line or conductor so as to permit tapping thereof without arcing damage. Thus FIG. 1 shows a power distribution system which includes an energized line 12 to which one or more tap wires 114 may be connected through the device it).

As shown best in FIGS. 2, 3, and 4, the device it) includes a unit 16 formed from a suitable material so that it is adapted to be compressed onto the power line 12 for connection thereto. For example, in the event the power line 12 is an aluminum conductor, the compression unit 16 is preferably formed from aluminum or an alloy thereof. The device til also includes a Wire loop or bail 18 formed from a suitable electricity conducting material such, for example, as copper.

As shown in FIG. 4, the compression unit 16 is ini tially formed so that it comprises an upper marginal flange or hook portion Ztl which has an arcuate transverse cross section and which is adapted to be applied over the conductor 12 in the manner shown for retaining the device it in association with the conductor prior to the crimping or compressing operation, The upper arcuate flange section merges with a side portion 22 of the compression unit body from which extends an intermediate web or flange portion 24, and a lower marginal arcuate flange portion The intermediate portion 24 terminates in a depending relatively short flange 2% which complements the remainder of the intermediate section 24 and the lower arcuate marginal flange 26 in providing the unit with a bore or passageway 30 adapted to receive portions of the wire bail or stirrup 18.

The bail or stirrup i8 is formed from a wire having a generally round; cross section with a diameter preferably less than the transverse dimensions or the diameter of the bore Ed in the compression unit 16. in this embodiment the bail is provided with a central horizontal portion 32 merging at its opposite ends with upstanding leg portions and 35 which in turn merge with inwardly directed end portions 33 and 4h.

it is to be noted that in accordance with an important feature of the present invention, terminal end sections 4-2 and i l of the bail portions 38 and are flattened to a non-circular configuration. Thus when the unit 36 is crimpcd or con essed as shown in PEG. 3, the non-circular sections and 44 positively interlock with the collapsed flanges 26 and 28 to prevent the bail from rotating or wisting reiative to the unit in. it will further be noted that, in this embodiment, sections and idare flattened and radially expanded so that their major transverse dimensions are similar to the transverse dimensions or diameter of the bore 31: so that the sections 44 have a friction fit within the bore. This friction fit between the sections d2 and 4 and the surface of the bore 3% serves to resist slipping of the bail axially of the here from the desired centered relationship with the unit it; as shown in 2. The friction fit may also serve to retain the bail in any desired adjusted position to which it may be rotated about the common axis of the portions and ed and the bore prior to the completion of the crimping or compressing operation. in certain instances a more positive preliminary interlock may be obtained by creasing or pinching the side portion 22 in the vicinity of the bore 3% so as to collapse the bore slightly.

When installing a stirrup type connector or device it the unit It is hooked around the line 12 as shown in PEG. 4

tionally 2e esired adjusted postion relau in crimps or comp. unit t to the condition shown in 3 with the aid of a suitable tool, not shown. Then one or more wires may be applied to the various portions of the bail or stirrup member 1 5 as shown best in FIG. 2. Suitable connectors do are llSu for scctn ng the r 1 wires id to the bail member and, if desired, the connect rs may have essentially the same construction as the unit 16.

FIGS. 5 and 6 show a modified embodiment of the present invention which is sit to t e structure dcreference numerals with the suffix a added ing elements. This embodiment differs in t to the flattened end sections 1 tions 33!: and crovid and As indi ucd, these enla formed by further flattening and radially exte wire ad jaccnt the flattened end se cats L l) n unit 16 for positively preve tween the bail and the unit ore in addition the leg portions bail E16 flexed so that the enlargemen urged against the opposite ends for frictionally retaining the bail in any position to which it may be adjusted r rotated relative to the compression 1 5 about the ads of the bore FIGS. 7 and 3 show a device embodying a further slightly modicd form of the present invention. This embodiment closely resembles the struc e shown in FIGS. 5 and 6 except that the diameter of the wire bail is relatively small as compared with t e oi .eter of the bore 3% so that the major dimension of the enlargements 45b and 5d!) may not be SUffiClElll to enable the enlargements to function by tain the bail in the desired the compression unit. Thus washer like elements 5 2 and 534 are applied over the end sections 4% and 4%, which washer elements have internal diameters less than the major dirnensi n of the enlargements db and 5% and external diameters substantially greater the diameter of the bore 3% so that the washers in combination with he enlargements function to locate the bail in the desired manner with respect to the compression unit.

FIG. 9 shows a device We which is similar to the structures described above as indicated by the application of identical reference numerals w' l sutTlx c added to corresponding elements. in this embodiment the portions 33c and dbc of the wire stirrup or bail are turned outwardly away from each other rather tl an in wardly toward each other and two identical compression units 160 are provided respectively for eceiving the end sections 42c and Me of the The flattened sections 420 and ude are formed so that they extend entirely through their associated compression units, after liminary assembly or the compression units and the ticns 42c and 52-0 has been accomplished, outer terminal ends of the flattened sections are further pinched and radially expanded to provide additional enlargements 56 and 53 for retaining the compression units in associay be exte tied for accommodating a p v :e connectors. 1

the preferred embodiments of the present inon have been shown and described herein, it is obviou that structural details may be changed withparting from the spirit and scope of the appended claims.

The invention is claimed as follows:

1. A stirrup-type connector device for making tap connections to an electric power line comprising: a wire bail of electrically conductive material having a central portion terminating at its ends in upstanding leg portions, each of said leg portions merging into an end means, each of said end means including a preliminarily formed, fiattcned section having a minor transverse dimension and a major transverse dimension exceeding said minor (1 *nsion, each of said end means further including a preliminarily formed or argement situated adjacei at least the inner eno of said flattened section, said cnlement having a tajor dimension exceeding the major transv re dir ension of said flat; ened secti n; means for coupli 1- said bail to said power line including a body of deformable, electrically conductive material having a hook por tion adapted to receive and be crimped snugly about a section of said power line and having arcuate flanges dcfining a bore with its axis disposed parallel to said power line, said bore initially having a transverse dimension at least no greater than the major transverse dimension of said flattened sections for receiving at least one of said flattened sections in a press fit, cimping of said flanges non-rotatably securing said bail to said coupling means, said enlargement confronting said body to block axial movement of said bail relative thereto; and means for shining a tap wire to said bail away from said body.

2. A. stirrup-type connector according to claim 1 wherein the terminal portions of said end means confront each other to define a discontinuity in said bail and wherein the enlargements at the inner ends of said flattened sections are spaced apart by a distance less than the axial extent of said body whereby said last mentioned enlargements are biased into frictional engagement with the ends of said body.

3. A stirrup-type connector according to claim 1 and further comprising a washer element disposed on said flattened section between the enlargement at the inner end thereof and said body.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,838,653 Bergman Dec. 29, 1931 1,842,525 Heintz Jan. 26, 1932 2,131,766 Temple Oct. 4, 1938 2,188,178 Eby Jan. 23, 1940 2,884,478 Becker Apr. 28, 1959 2,895,002 Dupre July 14, 1959 2,956,108 Brenner Oct. 11, 1960 OTHER REFERENCES Braden et al.: Stirrup Aids lot Taps, Electrical World, June 16, 1958, page 50. 

1. A STIRRUP-TYPE CONNECTOR DEVICE FOR MAKING TAP CONNECTIONS TO AN ELECTRIC POWER LINE COMPRISING: A WIRE BAIL OF ELECTRICALLY CONDUCTIVE MATERIAL HAVING A CENTRAL PORTION TERMINATING AT ITS ENDS IN UPSTANDING LEG PORTIONS, EACH OF SAID LEG PORTIONS MERGING INTO AN END MEANS, EACH OF SAID END MEANS INCLUDING A PRELIMINARILY FORMED, FLATTENED SECTION HAVING A MINOR TRANSVERSE DIMENSION AND A MAJOR TRANSVERSE DIMENSION EXCEEDING SAID MINOR DIMENSION, EACH OF SAID END MEANS FURTHER INCLUDING A PRELIMINARILY FORMED ENLARGEMENT SITUATED ADJACENT AT LEAST THE INNER END OF SAID FLATTENED SECTION, SAID ENLARGEMENT HAVING A MAJOR DIMENSION EXCEEDING THE MAJOR TRANSVERSE DIMENSION OF SAID FLATTENED SECTION; MEANS FOR COUPLING SAID BAIL TO SAID POWER LINE INCLUDING A BODY OF DEFORMABLE, ELECTRICALLY CONDUCTIVE MATERIAL HAVING A HOOK PORTION ADAPTED TO RECEIVE AND BE CRIMPED SNUGLY ABOUT A SECTION OF SAID POWER LINE AND HAVING ARCUATE FLANGES DEFINING A BORE WITH ITS AXIS DISPOSED PARALLEL TO SAID POWER LINE, SAID BORE INITIALLY HAVING A TRANSVERSE DIMENSION AT LEAST NO GREATER THAN THE MAJOR TRANSVERSE DIMENSION OF SAID FLATTENED SECTIONS FOR RECEIVING AT LEAST ONE OF SAID FLATTENED SECTIONS IN A PRESS FIT, CRIMPING OF SAID FLANGES NON-ROTATABLY SECURING SAID BAIL TO SAID COUPLING MEANS, A SAID ENLARGEMENT CONFRONTING SAID BODY TO BLOCK AXIAL MOVEMENT OF SAID BAIL RELATIVE THERETO; AND MEANS FOR AFFIXING A TAP WIRE TO SAID BAIL AWAY FROM SAID BODY. 